Adirondack-style chair having improved comfort and support

ABSTRACT

An Adirondack-style chair having a back with a curvate conformation providing enhanced comfort and support to a user, in relation to planar back structures traditionally used for such type chairs. The back can have a flattened S-shaped conformation, with an upper section having a curvature in a range of from 20-40 degrees and a lower section having a curvature in a range of from 40-60 degrees, as complementary angles to the angle that is included by the tangents to the ends of the curved sections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/262,162 filed on Nov. 18, 2009 in the names of Barbara J. Roeder andJeffrey F. Roeder for “ADIRONDACK-STYLE CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED COMFORTAND SUPPORT” is hereby claimed under the provisions of 35 USC 119(e).

FIELD

The present invention relates to a chair, in the category of rusticand/or casual furniture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Rustic, Adirondack-style chairs are constructed of simple forms,typically utilizing plank lumber as the primary material ofconstruction. Synthetic varieties also exist, generally composed ofpolymeric or filled polymeric materials that simulate wood inappearance.

Adirondack chairs are typically used in outdoor locations, and have beenwell-established in the field of outdoor furniture since the earliesttwentieth century. The traditional design includes straight back andseat portions, set at a slant, with wide armrests. An earlyAdirondack-type chair is described in U.S. Pat. No. 794,777 to HarryBunnell. Adirondack-type chairs have recently become popular in outdoorseating at restaurants and coffee bars, because their flat armrestsfacilitate placement of food and drinks, without the necessity oftables.

Based on the generic design concept of the planking, most examplesobtain their various shapes of curvature from components cut from planarmaterials and retain substantially planar properties in the componentparts of the chair.

Although curved seats are well known, formed by utilizing strip-likecomponents attached to curved supports, the back support ofAdirondack-style chairs has continued to be constituted by a flat planarstructure, as fundamental to its traditional appearance.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an improved Adirondack-style chairhaving improved comfort and support characteristics.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to an Adirondack-stylechair, having a back that is shaped to more closely resemble to thecurvature of a human spine, e.g., with an upper (thoracic) sectionhaving a curvature in a range of from 20-40 degrees and a lower (lumbar)section having a curvature in a range of from 40-60 degrees, ascomplementary angles to the angle that is included by the tangents tothe ends of the curved sections.

In a further aspect, the back of the chair is sculpted to provide lumbarsupport, by the back having a flattened S-shape in elevational profile.

In another aspect, the back of the chair is sculpted to curve to theupper back, increasing support and comfort.

In a still further aspect, the chair allows for adjustment of the heightof the back and the inclination of the back with respect to the seat.

In yet another aspect, the chair provides for adjustment of the heightof the front of the seat.

In still another aspect, different construction methods are provided toachieve the desired curvature of the back support. For example, thechair back may have a pre-shaped conformation, at a lower range ofnormal back curvature, with a mechanical displacement assembly thattranslates the lumbar portion of the back and/or the thoracic portion ofthe back forwardly or rearwardly as desired, to change, i.e., increaseor decrease, the degree of curvature at those sections of the chairback.

Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be morefully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic of the improved chair design showing asculpted back support with vertical members that contact the human back.

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic of the chair back support membershowing forward to backward adjustment capability.

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic of the lower support member of thechair and front leg showing up and down adjustment capability.

FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing of an alternative back configurationwith horizontal back support members.

FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of the rear of the back with a camdevice to raise and lower the back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an Adirondack-style chair having a backshaped to more closely resemble the curvature of a human spine, toenhance the comfort and support afforded by the chair.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to an Adirondack-stylechair, having a back that is shaped to more closely resemble thecurvature of a human spine, with an upper (thoracic) section having acurvature in a range of from 20-40 degrees and a lower (lumbar) sectionhaving a curvature in a range of from 40-60 degrees, as complementaryangles to the angle that is included by the tangents to the ends of thecurved sections.

In a further aspect, the back of the chair can be sculpted to providelumbar support and/or support to the upper back, by the back having aflattened S-shape in elevational profile.

In one embodiment, the chair allows for adjustment of the height of theback and the inclination of the back with respect to the seat.

In another embodiment, the chair is constructed and arranged to providefor adjustment of the height of the front of the seat.

In still another embodiment, the chair back may have a pre-shapedconformation, at a lower range of normal back curvature, with amechanical displacement assembly that translates the lumbar portion ofthe back and/or the thoracic portion of the back forwardly or rearwardlyas desired, to change, i.e., increase or decrease, the degree ofcurvature at those sections of the chair back.

The Andirondack-style chair of the present invention is improved withrespect to comfort and support, in relation to a correspondingAndirondack-style chair lacking the spinal curvature-trackingconformation of the Andirondack-style chair of the present invention.

The invention contemplates Adirondack-style chairs having customizedspinal curvature-tracking conformations, for specific users, but morebroadly provides a non-planar back structure that has a degree ofcurvature that provides enhanced support and comfort, in relation to aplanar back Andirondack-style chair, for general use.

The curvature or curvate conformation of the back of the chairs of thepresent invention may include curvature of 20-40 degrees for thethoracic curvature region of the chair back and 40-60 degrees for thelumbar curvature region of the chair back, as the complimentary anglesto the angle included by the tangents to the ends of the curved regions.

See in this respecthttp://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1277.html,http://www.ajronline org/cgi/reprint/134/5/979—“Thoracic Kyphosis, Rangein Normal Subjects,” G. T. Fon, et al., American Journal ofRoentegenology, 134, 1980, 979-983, andhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/aob/v14n4/en a03v14n4.pdf—LUMBAR LORDOSIS: ASTUDY OF ANGLE VALUES AND OF VERTEBRAL BODIES AND INTERVERTEBRAL DISCSROLE,” L.H. FONSECA DAMASCENO, ACTA ORTOP BRAS 14(4)-2006 193, thedisclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference,in their respective entireties.

The chair of the invention can be fabricated to include a back panelhaving a lower convexly curved lumbar supporting portion and a concavelycontoured upper portion.

In one aspect, the back of the chair is sculpted to provide lumbarsupport.

In another aspect, the back of the chair is sculpted to curve to theupper back, also increasing support and comfort. This is more clearlyappreciated in the perspective drawing in FIG. 1, wherein the back 1 hasan outward curve near its intersection with the seat 2. FIG. 1 is aperspective schematic of the improved chair design, in one embodimentthereof, showing a sculpted back support with vertical members thatcontact the human back.

The outward curve provides lumbar support for the lower spine andfollows the natural curve of the back of the human body. The back 1 alsohas a curve inward in the upper region in a direction opposed to thelower curve that allows for more full and comfortable contact with theupper back. The back may be constructed of vertical slats that areformed to the desired shape by sawing from a thick billet. They may alsobe formed from flat slats that are bent according to known principlessuch as steam bending, wherein the slats are first heated in steam, andsubsequently bent or formed around a mandrel corresponding to thedesired curvature, and allowed to cool, thus being stabilized in thedesired state of curvature. They may also be formed by laminating thinflexible strips in a suitable form to create a composite structureretaining the desired shape.

The vertical slats are held together by horizontal cross bars 3, 4. Theback may also have compound curvature, i.e., the cross bars 3, 4 mayalso be curved in a direction perpendicular to the width of the crossbar member. This may alternatively be described as a directiontangential to the longitude of the back and parallel to the plane of thefloor, e.g., a planar support surface, upon which the chair rests. Anadjustable lumbar curvature achieved by means of suitable mechanicaladjustment may also be advantageous.

The rest of the chair is designed according to the traditionalAdirondack-type pattern, with the seat slats 2 supported on curvedstringers 5 to correspond to the curvature of the thighs and buttocks.The stringers are supported by front legs 6. The front legs 6 alsosupport the arm rests 7. A rear vertical support 8 connects to ahorizontal support 9 that holds the back of the chair in the desiredposition relative to the seat.

It is appreciated that not all bodies are the same and that variousadjustments can be provided to accommodate different body heights, leglengths, and lumber locations. Therefore, in a further embodiment, thechair allows for adjustment of the height of the back and theinclination of the back with respect to the seat. This may beaccomplished by moving the lower horizontal crossbar 4 together with theseat back 1 up and down with respect to the stringer 6, eitherpermanently, or with a shim, jack screw, or other adjustment mechanismthat can be used repetitively to accommodate the chair to differentusers.

A sub-assembly shown in FIG. 2 illustrates one method of achieving thedesired forward and back adjustment of the inclination of the back ofthe chair with respect to the seat. A movable support 10 may bepositioned at different forward or backward positions by means offasteners placed through the corresponding holes in the horizontalsupport 9 that are disposed in a line forwardly and backwardly withrespect to the chair back. Suitable fasteners include bolts and nuts, orpins, which may be removable to allow repeated adjustments as desired bythe user. Alternatively, a jack screw mechanism could be used to movethe back 1 to a desired position.

In yet another aspect, the chair provides for adjustment of the heightof the front of the seat. FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic of theconnection of the front leg 6 to the stringer 5. Adjustment isaccomplished by selecting the appropriate hole in the stringer thatcorresponds to the most comfortable position of the height of the frontof the seat 2. Suitable fasteners include bolt and nut assemblies, orpins, which may be removable to allow repeated adjustments as may bedesired by the user. Alternatively, a jack screw mechanism could be usedto raise and lower the front of the seat 2.

In still another aspect, different construction methods are provided toachieve the desired curvature of the back support. For example,horizontal slats 11 may be substituted for vertical slats in the chairback 13 as shown in FIG. 4. The desired sculpted curvature isaccomplished by curved stringers 12. The stringers 12 may optionallyhave multiple holes toward the bottom to allow for vertical adjustmentwith respect to the seat stringers 5. The back may also be curvedperpendicular to its longitudinal direction for a compound sculpting.

Upward and downward adjustment of the back may be accomplished by movingthe back up and down and fastening it through different holes in thecurved stringers 12. Alternatively, a cam type adjustment may beemployed as shown in FIG. 5. By rotating the cams 14 the back may beraised and lowered by the action of the cams resting on a horizontalslat 2 to the rear of the back that is attached to the stringers 5.

While the description to this point has assumed that the material ofconstruction of the chair is wood, other suitable materials may be used,for example, plastics, composite materials, metal, or combinationsthereof.

The forgoing description is intended to give a general outline of animproved Adirondack-style chair with sculpted back rest and a variety ofadjustable features to allow it to be readily tailored to the desires ofthe user. It will be appreciated that other variations may be apparentto those skilled in the art and the foregoing description is notintended to be limiting, but rather to be construed broadly with respectto this design. It will further be appreciated that the design may beaugmented and enhanced by other features, for example contouredcushions, relief of edges at various locations, and the like.

1. An Adirondack-style chair with a curved back wherein the curvatureconforms substantially to the human back, providing enhanced support andcomfort.
 2. The chair of claim 1 with an outward curvature to the lowerregion of the back providing support to the lumbar region of the spine.3. The chair of claim 1 wherein the back has an inward curvature to anupper back region.
 4. The chair of claim 1 wherein the back hasadditional curvature along a side to side arc.
 5. The chair of claim 1wherein the back is adjustable forwardly and backwardly to change theangle of inclination with respect to a seat thereof.
 6. The chair ofclaim 1 comprising a seat that is adjustable upwards and downwards at afront part thereof.
 7. The chair of claim 1 wherein the back comprisesslats that are vertically positioned with respect to the chair.
 8. Thechair of claim 1 wherein the back comprises slats that are horizontallypositioned with respect to the chair.
 9. The chair of claim 1 whosematerials of construction comprise one or more materials selected fromamong wood, plastic, composite materials, and metal.
 10. The chair ofclaim 1 whose materials of construction predominantly comprise wood. 11.The chair of claim 1 constructed and arranged for adjustment of heightof the back and inclination of the back with respect to a seat portionthereof.
 12. An Adirondack-style chair, having a back that is shaped toresemble curvature of a human spine, with an upper section having acurvature in a range of from 20-40 degrees and a lower section having acurvature in a range of from 40-60 degrees, as complementary angles tothe angle that is included by the tangents to the ends of the curvedsections.
 13. An Adirondack-style chair, having a back with a flattenedS-shape in side elevational profile.
 14. The chair of claim 13 having apre-shaped conformation of the back, at a lower range of normal backcurvature, with a mechanical displacement assembly that translates thelumbar portion of the back and/or the thoracic portion of the backforwardly or rearwardly as desired, to change the degree of curvature atthose sections of the chair back.
 15. The chair of claim 13 whosematerials of construction comprise one or more materials selected fromamong wood, plastic, composite materials, and metal.
 16. The chair ofclaim 13 further comprising cam elements arranged for manual rotation toeffect vertical adjustment of said back.